With The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative drawing to a close this month, the QGC Scotland Committee met to celebrate Scotland’s achievements at a tree planting ceremony in Tollcross Park, together with Lord Provost of Glasgow City, Jacqueline McLaren, and members of the local community.
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to honour the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. As a nationwide initiative inviting people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a tree for the Jubilee”, the QGC was due to conclude in December 2022 – the end of the Jubilee year. Following the wishes of His Majesty The King, the QGC was extended until March 2023 to give people an opportunity to plant trees in memoriam to honour Queen Elizabeth.
With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC encouraged planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations and local communities across the UK. Over a million new trees have now been planted across the UK, building a sustainable legacy and access to green space for future generations and local communities nationwide.
Queen’s Green Canopy CEO, Colonel Dan Rex, joined the initiative’s Scotland Committee in acknowledging the country’s tree planting efforts. Also attending the event to plant the tree were children and teachers from the local Winter Gardens Nursery and representatives from the Green Action Trust, who supported the QGC initiative in Scotland.
Glasgow City Council agreed to the ceremonial tree being planted within Tollcross Park, and this will contribute to the wider tree planting proposals being developed for the park and many other greenspaces across the city.
Colonel Dan Rex, Chief Executive of the Queen’s Green Canopy, said:
“The response to The Queen’s Green Canopy across Scotland has been exceptional. With The late Queen Elizabeth leading the way when she planted a tree with our Patron, the then Duke of Rothesay, and local school children at Balmoral Castle, individuals, community groups, schools, Clan Centres, businesses, as well as public authorities have all embraced the project, planting beautiful individual trees, stunning avenues, copses and forests, from the Highlands & Islands through the glens and across Scotland’s great cities. These plantings will benefit all of us for decades to come and provide a wonderful legacy to celebrate the life of The late Queen.”
Green Action Trust CEO and QGC Scotland Committee Member, Derek Robertson, said:
“I am delighted that the Green Action Trust played a part in the promotion and delivery of such a worthwhile campaign, which is a fitting legacy of Her late Majesty. Planting trees and protecting forests are simple, cost effective ways to slow climate change, filter our air, enhance our communities and provide habitats for wildlife.”
You can find out more about The Queen’s Green Canopy at https://queensgreencanopy.org